On World Play Day, Ford reveals how they have used gaming technology to make night driving easier and prevent accidents.

The technology allows directions, speed limits or weather information to be projected to keep the driver’s eye on the road.

While the introduction of technology on vehicle displays allows drivers to receive important information about their journey, the condition of their vehicle, or the distance traveled, losing sight of the road to view this type of information increases the likelihood of an accident, especially if you are driving at night. For this reason, Ford Motor Company engineers are testing new technology that will project directions, speed limits or weather information to keep the driver’s eye on the road at all times.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Observatory, there were 8,264 road accidents in the country in 2022.[1] and it is estimated that this risk increases each time the driver is distracted from the road. A vehicle traveling at a speed of 90 km per hour travels 25 meters per second, which means that with a cursory glance at the screen or mobile phone, it can “blindly drive” ten or more meters. Without lighting, this could mean missing an important sign or a turn in the road.

The technology being studied by Ford Motor Colombia will allow high-resolution headlights to project information onto the road, benefiting drivers and even other users. For example, a pedestrian crossing may be projected onto the street in situations where existing road markings are faded or indistinct.

Other features include displaying the path that the driver should follow to prevent vehicles from entering areas reserved for cyclists, as well as providing the driver with information about weather changes such as fog or slippery surfaces. In addition, connecting the headlights to the navigation system can display upcoming turns on the road, and the width of the car can be projected onto different roads so that the driver can judge whether he can drive or park in different places.

Video game lighting

Video games are not only a source of entertainment, but also a source of inspiration for technological advances in various industries. For this reason, on World Video Game Day, which is celebrated every year on August 29, Ford highlights how they have advanced in this sector in the prevention of accidents based on systems of this type.

To demonstrate the potential of the technology, engineers created an experimental version that allows drivers and passengers to play video games while the car is stationary. The experts programmed a test vehicle to run a Tetris®-style video game that used headlights to project the game onto a wall and controlled elements via steering wheel buttons. This set the stage for future research into what else could be projected onto the road to make driving at night easier.

“At Ford, we are committed to ensuring the safety of the driver and his passengers. That is why we are constantly developing innovative technologies to achieve higher safety standards, especially when driving at night. In this case, the inspiration for the engineering team came from video games, because by combining lighting and road information, the driver is more likely to follow the road and have a complete view of it, thus preventing accidents. prevented.explained Rafael Melo, Ford marketing manager.

Working to make night driving more comfortable and safer is part of Ford Motor Company’s commitment to developing technologies that improve and improve people’s lives and work, making their lives easier now and in the future.

[1] https://ansv.gov.co/es/observatorio/estad%C3%ADsticas/historico-victimas